Safety latch



C. D. BEST SAFETY LATCH May 5, 1953 Filed Nov. 28, 1950 CHARLES 0. BESTINVEN TOR HUEBNER, BEEHLER,

WORREL 8 HERZ/G ATTORNEYS Patented May 5, 1953 'ITE'D vS TATES PAT EN TO F F I C E SAFETY LATCH \Cha-rles 11!... Best, Fresno, Calif.

implication November 28, 1950, Seri'aTNo. 19.7 ,8'9'8- 1 5 @laims.r

The present invention relates to latches :and more particularly to asafety latch for window screens, windows, doors, lids, shutters and thelike. The latch has particular utility in assoelation-With a movableclosure member, such as a window; to retain an'anxiliaryelosure member,such as a window screen, in closed position and is convenientlydescribed in connection "with such use.

Window screens are conventionally iatohed in fitted relation to theirrespective frames by means of the well known hook and eye devices. Itisthensual practice screw-threadedlyto mount the eyes in window framesadjacent-to window screens received thereby and swivel-1y to connecthooks to the screens for 'releaseable engagement with the eyes. Thestructure is economical :and usually retains the screens in closedposition against accidental clisplacement thereof bu't is subj eot-to-ce1*tain dii-"fi'ciilties which the present invention seeirs toovercome.

It is well known that conventional hook :and eye latches offer noprotection against illegal entry in that-the latches arereadilydisengaged from their respective eyes merely 'by eate-riding a,slender wire or "thei-likethrou'gh the screen and effecting thedisengagement. Eu'rther, shrinking and swelling of wooden window framesand screens fitted thereto frequently" :causes a loosening of hook andeye engagement so that slight jostling or the screen "incident'to .awind or the-like 'causes the hooks to fall trorn 5936.611 gagement.Thus; the conventional ihook and eye structures are not always.dependahle .zin maintainin latched association against even advertent oraccidental disengagementobject of :the present invention is therefore toprovide an improved latch for window :sereen's', windows, doors, lids,shutters, ;.and who like.

Another object is to provide :a latch aof the character described thatis characterized by imiproved safety .resistanoe "to accidentalireilease as well as deliberate release drom externally :of a closuremember held "thereby.

I nn'iotherrobject' isito provide .alatchuhaving particular utility "inmaintaining a movable :clo, sure member such as a window screenfinclosed position and which is adapted to oe locked latching position 'byoverlaid engagement with an associated closure member, such 'as'a-w'indow sash.

Another .ob'jectisto providealatc'h for window =.scr.eens that issubstantially impossible to release from externally of a screen'heldthereby.

Other objects and advantages are to provide improved elements,configurations, and-arrangements thereof in a device of the characterand ffll'dJhB purposes set fosth that is economical to produce, durable,and fullyeffective in performing its intended function.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent in the subsequentdescription in the specification.

"In the drawing:

Fig. I is afragmentary plan view-of a Window sill and fragmentaryhorizontal section of a window screen showing "in plan view -a latchembodying the principles of the present invention, the illustratedmembers being shown in the rela tive position assumed at the initiationof a latohing operation before the screen is fully closed.

Fig. .2 is similar t,o Fig..-1.except that thememhers shown therein areillustrated (at the gnome pletion of. the latching operation.

Fig. 3 isza vertical-section through a window .frame, window sash, andwindow .screen, showting the latch of the present invention .in :side.elenation [its relation to the associated members shown ,in Fig. 2.

is;a perspective .view of the latch of the present invention.

.iF-ig. 5 vis .a fragmentary section of. a window frame and window .sashshowing .in fragmentary :section :a latch of the present invention ,inna modified mounting position as compared with the mounting shown Fig..3.

Referring inggreatertdetail to the drawing:

A window .sill 1.0 is .shown as comprising a portionofira window frame.I I. The frame mounts 3a window sash i2. for vertical .sildablemovement and fitted engagement against the sill 1.0. .A window screen 44.is mounted in any suitable manner, not shown, for zfitted engagement.into the itrame ill in-spaced relation .to .thesash l2. Wmdow screen asemployed herein .is .intended to denote :a member having :a. suitableframe and an opening therein covered .hy wire screen mesh, as-is usuallyintended .in the trade.

Althoughthescreen, frame and sash are shown BESJiORHlEd of WOd,iit willbeunderstood that the .:latch. of the present invention is not limitedato employment with :such material.

The latch :of the present invention is indioated generally zit-20 andincludes-an velongated generally longitudinally of :the plate from an.end thereof. .A blade .23 is upwardly extended from the opposite end ofthe plate 21 and is generally transversely disposed to the plate. Theblade may provide a sharpened upwardly extended edge, if desired.

Intermediate the flange and the blade, a looking slot 25 is formedsubstantially transversely in the plate. The slot provides an enlargedopening 26 adapted to receive a locking pin, subsequently to bedescribed, an elongated central portion 21' arcuately extended from theopening 26 transversely of the plate and somewhat endwardly toward theend of the plate providing the flange 22. The slot 25 has a lockingportion 28 continuous with the elongated portion extended from saidelongated portion transversely of the plate and arcuately away from theend of the plate provided with the flange. is significant that thelocking portion 28 is aligned with the flange 22, as shown.

A connection 30 is swivelly mounted in the flange 22 near the adjacentend of the plate and is adapted for screw-threaded mounting in thescreen 84 or other closure member to be latched in closed position.

A locking pin 33, such as a headed screw, is mounted in the sill ID inspaced relation to the swivel connection 30 and either intermediate thescreen [4 and sash I2, as shown in Fig. 3, or beneath the sash l2, asshown in Fig. 5. As evident in Figs. 1 and 2, the locking pin ispositioned for convenient reception by the opening 26 as the screen I4is moved toward fitted position in the frame II and so that when theplate 2| is pivoted so as to receive the pin in the locking portion 28of the slot the plate is tensioned by the pin and the connection 30mounted in the screen.

Operation The operation of the latch of the present invention isbelieved to be clearly apparent and briefly summarized at this point.The latch is mounted for use by securing the swivel connection 30 in aclosure member such as the screen It in a position so that the plate 2|may rest on 'the sill I0 and the blade 23 extend under the window sashl2 or other associated closure member. 'The pin is positioned asdescribed either intermediate the screen and sash or beneath the sash,as convenience suggests. The swivel connection 30 and pin are properlyspaced for convenience of reception of the pin in the opening 26 as thescreen I4 is moved toward fitted position in the frame II. The screen isconveniently drawn tightly into fitted position if the pin 33 and swivelconnection 30 are properly positioned, by pivoting the plate 2| to movethe pin along the slot and bring the plate to rest with the pin in thelocking portion 28 aligned with the flange 22. In such position theplate is tensioned between the screen and pin.

The swivel connection 30 and pin 33 are s0 positioned that when thelatch plate is pivoted into latching position, as just described, theblade 23 is upwardly extended below the sash l2. 'When a wooden sash isemployed, it is forcibly seated against the sill l0 and the blade 23cuts its own slot upwardly into the sash as indicated at 35. When sashesother than wooden sashes are employed, a slot is cut in the bottom ofthe -sash to receive the blade 23. Similarly, the sash is formed toreceive the head of the pin 33 if said pin is mounted below the sash.

, When a screen is latched in the manner described it will be noted thata line radially of the swivel connection 30 passed through the pin 33will pass longitudinally through the flange 22.

The tension of the plate and flange facilitates maintenance of the pin33 and the locking portion 28 of the slot 25. When the sash 25 is seatedin the sill I0 over the blade 23, sash and blade engagement effectivelyprecludes pivotal movement of the plate 2| to disengage the pin 33.Further, the engagement of the blade 23 in the slot 35 aids in resistingoutward movement of the screen l4 and effectively obviates forciblepulling of the screen from latched position without physical destructionof portions of the screen, sill, and/ or sash.

It is impossible to release the latch when the sash I2 is in seatedposition on the blade 23 by the extension of a lever through the screenand attempting to pry the plate laterally by engagement of such a leverwith the pin. Primarily. such prying is resisted by blade and sashengagement. secondarily, the flange in the attitude described, makes itextremely diflicult to engage the pin 33 with a lever thrust through thescreen for prying purposes. It will be noted that the end of the flange22 adjacent to the slot 25 is downwardly slanted. This effectivelyprecludes prying against the flange for any lever employed for suchpurpose slips up the slanted end as soon as any appreciable force isexerted thereon.

The latch of the present invention provides improved safetycharacteristics as compared with conventional latches for the purposeand is fully effective in precluding inadvertent or accidentalunlatching thereof as well as deliberate efforts to unlatch the samefrom exteriorly of the screen. The latch is economical to produce,convenient and easy to install, even by a novice, and of durable formwhen fabricated from metal, plastic, fabric, or other suitable material.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred method and embodiment,it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scopeof the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosedherein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as toembrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A latch comprising a plate, and means mounted on the plate adaptedswivelly to mount the plate on a closure member, said plate having. ablade extended in substantially right angular, relation therefrom inspaced relation to the mounting means and a locking pin receiving slotformed in the plate intermediate the mounting means and blade.

2. A latch adapted for use with a window frame having a window sill, awindow sash mounted in the frame for slidable movement therein andseated engagement with the sill, and a window screen movable to and fromfitted engagement in the frame; comprising a flat plate rested on thesill having a locking pin receiving slot formed therein, means swivellymounted on an end of the plate connected to the screen, and a lockingpin mounted on the sill releasably engaged in the locking pin receivingslot of the plate to lock the plate tensioned between said pin and thescreen, said plate being extended between the Window sash and the silland having a blade in right angular relation thereto extended releasablyinto the sash.

3. A latch adapted for use with a window frame having a window sill, awindow sash mounted in the frame for slidable movement therein andseated engagement with the sill, and a window screen movable to and fromfitted engagement in the frame, comprising an elongated flat platerested on the sill having an upturned flange at an end thereof extendedlongitudinally of the plate and an upturned blade at the opposite end ofthe plate extended transversely of the plate, a swivel connectionmounted on the flange adjacent to its respective end of the plate andconnected to the screen, the plate having a locking slot formedgenerally transversely therein intermediate the swivel connection andthe blade, and a locking pin moz'nted in the sill in a position to bereceived by the slot in the plate with the plate tensioned between thescreen and said pin when the screen is in fitted position in the frameand with the swivel con nection positioning the blade between the silland the window sash for extension of the blade into the sash when thesash is seated on the sill.

4. A latch comprising an elongated plate having an upturned flange at anend thereof extended longitudinally of the plate and an upturned bladeat the opposite end of the plate extended transversely of the plate, anda swivel connection mounted on the flange adjacent to the end of theplate adapted for connection to a closure member, the plate having akidney slot formed generally transversely therein between the flange andblade adapted to receive a locking pin, said slot having an enlargedopening, an elongated curved portion continuous with the openingextended transversely of the plate and radially inwardly relative to theswivel connection, and a locking portion continuous with the elongatedportion extended transversely of the plate and radially outwardlyrelative to the swivel connection and terminated in substantialalignment with the flange.

5. In combination with a window frame having a window sill, a windowsash mounted in the frame for slidable elevational movement therein andseated engagement with the sill, and a window screen movable to and fromfitted relation to the frame; a latch comprising an elongated fiat platerested on the sill having an upturned flange at one end thereof extendedlongitudinally of the plate and an upturned blade at the opposite end ofthe plate extended transversely of the plate, a screw eye mounted in thescreen and swivelly connected to the flange of the plate whereby theplate may be moved pivotally over the sill, and a locking pin mounted inthe sill intermediate the screw eye and the window sash, the plate beingformed with a generally transverse slot having an enlarged end adaptedto receive the pin when the screen is outwardly displaced from fittedposition and an opposite end in substantial alignment with the flangespaced transversely of the plate from the enlarged end and radiallyinwardly of the swivel connection of the screw eye thereto whereby theplate is tensioned in latching position between the screw eye and thepin whn the screen is in fitted position and the pin received in saidopposite end of the slot, the plate being of such length that when inlatching position the blade is extended upwardly into the window sashwhen the sash is seated on the sill.

CHARLES D. BEST.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

